Six Flags to Pay $11 Million Over Hidden Theme Park Ticket Fees

Six Flags Entertainment Corp. has agreed to an $11-million class-action settlement over ticket processing fees, making more than 1.4 million California theme park customers eligible for an $8 refund or credit.

The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by Sargis Isayan, a Knott's Berry Farm customer who said the park's operator misled buyers with a hidden fee. Isayan sued Cedar Fair — then the operator of Knott's Berry Farm — in June 2024 in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Cedar Fair and Six Flags completed their merger in July.

The complaint accused the operator of "drip pricing": withholding mandatory fees until late in the purchase process. Isayan said in a court declaration that in February 2024 he bought four Knott's Berry Farm tickets through the park's website, and the advertised price did not include a $9.99 processing fee disclosed only at checkout.

"I was not aware of the processing fee before that," he wrote. "At that point, after having invested significant time, I decided to proceed with the purchase and pay the processing fee in addition to the ticket prices."

Isayan called the charge a "junk fee" — in his definition, an unfair or deceptive fee charged for a good or service with little or no added value for consumers. Six Flags denied violating any laws. A company representative could not be immediately reached for comment, and Isayan did not respond to The Times' request for comment.

Who qualifies for a refund?

Eligibility is narrow and date-bound:

• California residents who bought a non-season ticket to Knott's Berry Farm, Knott's Soak City in Buena Park or California's Great America in Santa Clara.
• The ticket must have been purchased from June 28, 2020, to July 1, 2024, on the park's official website.
• The billing address used at checkout must carry a California ZIP Code.
• The purchase must have included a processing fee.

Buyers unsure of their status can call 1-888-885-4303.

The class period ends July 1, 2024, because that is when the parks stopped charging processing fees, according to court records. The same date marked the start of Senate Bill 478, a California law banning hidden fees that applied to thousands of businesses statewide. What does this change for marketers running checkout flows in California? The settlement, read alongside SB 478, signals that all-in pricing is now the compliance baseline, not a differentiator.

How to file a claim

Eligible customers who submit a claim online at https://www.knottsgreatamericasettlement.com receive $8 cash — the average processing fee each person paid on a first purchase during the class period. Those who qualify but do not file automatically receive an $8 credit on Six Flags' website. The claim deadline is Dec. 22, 2026.

A court hearing is scheduled for March 30, 2027, when the agreement is expected to receive final approval.

The payout lands during a difficult stretch for Six Flags, based in Charlotte, N.C. In September, Magic Mountain permanently closed its X2 ride after a history of injuries. In October, a man died after being ejected from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. On the company's Nov. 5 earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Ash Walia said October was "softer than we planned," blaming the Georgia incident, related ride closures and bad weather on crucial weekends.

Six Flags is also shrinking its real estate footprint. The company said it is selling seven parks, including properties in New York, Texas and Minnesota. Santa Clara-based Great America will hold its last day of operation on Labor Day 2027.

For consumer brands, the practical takeaway is direct: an $8 fee left unexplained at checkout cost Eleven million dollars, regulatory attention and a year of litigation.